Locking mechanism for closure members



June 17, 1941. Q BROWN. JR 2,245,752

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS Filed May 19, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR.

June 17, 1941- c. L. BROWN. JR 22,2

LOCKING MECHANISM FOR CLOSURE MEMBERS 2 Shets-Sne'et 2 Filed y 19, 1939Mafia .I\ m 1 a 4 .1 a 5 3 Wm 3. 6J6 1 9 0 2 J 4. 3 J H J F 1 2INVENTOR. c M 4'.

Patented June 17, 1941 I 2.245.152 LOCKING Mechanism roa cLosrmE MEMBERSCharles L. Brown, In,

to 'Electrolux Corporation, corporation oi Delaware Stamford, Conn,assignor New York, N. Y" a Application May 19, 1939, "Serial No. Z74,567

6 Claims.

My invention relates to locking mechanism ior closure members and moreparticularly to looking mechanism for a closure member fora vacuumcleaner casing of the type having a unit pulled around on a supportingsurface by a hose.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved closure member witha locking mechanism of simple construction which may be readilymanufactured and assembled.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved lockingmechanism for a closure member which will withstand the forcetransmitted through the closure member in moving it about. I

What I consider to be novel and my invent-ion may be better understoodby reference to the following specification and appended claims whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1is a side view of a vacuum cleaner, broken away in part, and embodyingmy improved closure member;

Fig. 2 is an end view of the vacuum cleaner;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed view in section taken along the line 4-4of Fig. 3, showing the locking mechanism in a locking position;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4 with the looking mechanismdisengaged; and 1 Fig. 6 is a perspective view with the cover of theclosure member broken away in part to show the locking mechanism,

Referring to Fig. 1, l0 indicates a vacuum cleaner casing in which adust separating member H and a fan l2,'driven by an electic motor 13 arelocated. Dust separating member H is secured in-an opening H of casingby a closure member 15. Closure member 15 is provided with an inletopening it in which a flexible hose I1 is detachably secured. A cleaningtool 18 is connected to the flexible hose 11 with or without aninterposed rigid tubular member 19. Casing I0 is provided with anexhaust opening 26. As bestindicated in Fig. 3, dust separating memberII is provided with a ring having an outwardly extending flange 22..covered by a flexible gasket 23. Flange 22 and gasket 23 rest on arecessed seat 24 provided adjacent the opening 14 of easing l0. Closuremember 45 secures dust separating member II in casing 10 and provides a.passage 25 from the inlet opening 16 to the interior of the dustseparating member H.

In the operation of the vacuum cleaner, the

casing ll usually is located centrally of the surface being cleaned.'The area of the surface surrounding the casing 10 is traversed with thecleaning tool 18 When it is desired to clean another area remote iromthe casing in, the casing ii! is moved by pulling on the hose H. Theforce necessary for moving the casing I0 is transmitted from the 'hose11 to the casing l0, through the closure member 15. The closure memberI5 performs the function of transmitting this force for. moving thecasing III, in addition to its function of securing the dust separatingmember l 'l in the casing and permitting its periodical removal foremptying the dust collected therein. Closure member 15 is provided witha back plate 25 with boss receiving openings 21. Two bosses 28 extendforwardly from the casing 10 and from opposite sides of the opening l4into the boss receiving openings 21 of the plate 26. Two radiallyextending springs 29 are loosely held in plate 26 in slots 30 formed inthe two plates 3|. The inner ends of the-springs 29 enter a centralrecess 32 in the plate '26. The outer ends of the springs 29 are guidedby upstanding ears 33 formed in plates 3| secured to the plate 26. Thetwo springs 29 are arched longitudinally with their greatest heightnearer their inner ends. A cam 35 is pivotally secured between plates 3|by a pivot pin 36. Cam 35 is movable in a plane perpendicular to thesprings 29 by a handle 31 v extending outwardly throughan opening 38 ina cover 39 secured to plate 26. Cam 35 has beveled edges 35' at eachside. A finger recess 40 is provided in cover 39 for grasping handle 31.

When the handle 31 is in the position indicated in Fig. 3, the springs29 are depressed with their outer ends in engagement with the bosses 28.The ends of springs 29 in engagement with the bosses 28 produce a forceholding the closure member 15 in tight engagement with the casing 10,preventing the closure member from being pulled away from the casing IIIby any force transmitted through the closure member 15, in

moving the casing HI around on its supporting surface. When the handle31 is moved in a direction away from the closure member 15, cam 35 isrotated on pivot pin 36 in a counter-clockwise direction, looking fromthe right, releasing the springs 29, and permitting them to assume freepositions with the outer ends withdrawn from engagement with the boss28. With the springs 29 in this position, the closure member l5 may bewithdrawn from the casing Ill to permit the removal of the dustseparating member with the plates II iormed integrally therewith. 6

The two guide plates 34 are formed with the upstanding ears 33 andsecured to the plate 28. The two springs 29 or arched shape are locatedin position on the plate 2|. The cam I with cured between the plates IIby pivot pin 36 The cover 39 which is preferably formed in a stampingoperation, to conform in shape with dle connected tosaid cam. to theplate 26 for covering the locking-l5 the general shape of the casing IIis securedmechanism.

What I claim is: I l

1. A locking mechanism for a closure'member including an arched spring,a cam engaging the arched portion or said spring and pivoted for 20movement in a plane perpendicular to said spring, and a handle connectedto said cam for mtating said cam to one position depressing said springand moving said spring outwardly in a radial direction into lockingposition; 2'

2. A locking mechanism for a closure'member including a plate havingboss receiving openings, two radially extending springs archedlongitudinally', a cam pivotally connected to said plate at the junctureof said. springs for movement in so a plane pe ndicular to said springs,and a handle connected to said cam for rotating'said cam to a lockingposition depressing said springs and moving the springs outwardly in aradial direction to engage bosses entering the boss receiv- 35 ingopenings of said plate.

8. A locking mechanism for a closure member including a plate, aplurality oi arched resilient members loosely carried by said plate, acam engaging said resilient members pivotally con 40 nected to saidplate for movement in a plane perpendicular to said plate, and a handleconnected to said cam for moving said cam to depress said resilientmembers and move said members outwardly into locking position.

4. A locking mechanism for a closure member including aplate having acentral'recess, an arched resilient member loosely carried by said platehaving one end located in said recess and the handle 31 formedintegrally therewith isse.- 10

the other end positioned adjacent the outer edge of said plate, a camengaging said member pivotally connected to said plate for movement in aplane perpendicular to said plate, and a han- 5.,A locking mechanism fora closure member including a plate having a central recess, two archedresilient members secured to said plate with'ends located .insaidrecess, the outer ends or said members positioned adjacent theperipheryoi said plate, and a cam pivotally secured to said'plate-betweengsaid members and rotat-' able to deform said members andmove the outer ends oi said members into locking position.

6. Alocking mechanism for a closure member 5 including a plate havingboss receiving openings and a centrallydisposed recess, two radiallyextending springs arched longitudinally having theirinner ends seated insaid recess and their outer ends positioned adjacent said boss receivingopenings, a cam pivotally connected to said plate at the. juncture ofsaid springs 10: movement in a plane perpendicular. to said springs todepress the springs and move their outer ends into engagement withbosses entering said boss receiving openings, and a handle connected tosaid cam'ior rotating said cam from a position depressing said springsto.a position releasing said springs.

CHARLES L. BROWN, JR.

